The Old Testament is difficult for many readers to understand. How can the vengeful, angry God of the Old Testament be the same as the comforting, loving God of the New Testament? How can these old narratives of death, revenge, and morally wrong choices guide you as a Christian? To truly understand the New Testament, you have to wrestle with the Old Testament and things that might not make sense.

Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann guide you through the Old Testament to understand these often difficult and overlooked passages. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

About the Authors

Dr. Andrew Steinmann taught at Concordia University Chicago as a distinguished professor of theology and Hebrew from 2000 until retiring in July 2023. At Concordia, he taught a wide variety of classes, including Hebrew I and II, Hebrew Readings, Readings in Hebrew, and Introduction to the Old Testament. His research interests are focused on Hebrew, Aramaic languages, apocalyptic literature, wisdom literature, and biblical chronology. Throughout his career, Dr. Steinmann has written over fifty articles and book reviews published in national and international journals. He serves as a regular guest on numerous radio programs. Dr. Steinmann holds the following degrees: PhD, Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; MDiv, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana; BSChE, chemical engineering, University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

1. Reed Lessingserves as the Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch chair of Old Testament studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He directs the university’s Center of Biblical Studies as well as its pre-seminary program. Reed also serves as associate pastor at Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina, Minnesota. He has authored six commentaries in the Concordia Commentary series and books on Exodus, Numbers, and Jeremiah for a broader audience. He has co-authored three books with Andrew Steinmann

Praise for Wrestling with God

Readers of the Old Testament are well aware that it contains many puzzling and even disturbing passages. In this volume, Lessing and Steinmann, two seasoned interpreters of the Old Testament, join forces to “wrestle with” some of the most difficult passages. Their thoughtful and reasonable responses to tough questions, including those posed by the violence depicted in the Old Testament and by its portrait of an angry and vengeful God, deserve careful consideration.

—Robert B. Chisholm Jr., chair and senior professor of Old Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

For most Christians, outside of a few familiar places, the Old Testament is a strange, intimidating land into which they dare not venture. Lessing and Steinmann serve as guides to this strange land that makes up three-quarters of the Bible. Their magnificent comprehensive treatment addresses every major misconception of the Old Testament in a way that is easy to understand. Even more helpful are the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which allow the reader to deepen his or her understanding of the Old Testament and develop a fuller appreciation for God’s Word.

—Rev. Dr. Ryan M. Tietz, associate professor of exegetical theology, Old Testament, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

Wrestling with God clearly comes from pastors who love teaching Bible studies. Rather than dodging the hard questions, this book takes them head-on! With clarity and conviction, Lessing and Steinmann offer us a delightful guide into the murkier parts of the Old Testament. Under the guise of addressing difficult passages, they sneak in a ton of biblical theology—teaching us who God is for us as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—all through the prophetic witness of the Old Testament. 

—Rev. Dr. Geoffrey R. Boyle, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne